Council faces opposition over bylaw

The Batam City Council is pushing forward on a bylaw on labor despite protests from businesspeople.

The bylaw, which is expected to be enacted in 2012, requires employers to meet workers’ basic rights that many say are largely overlooked.

Batam Municipal Council Commission IV chairman Riki Indrakari told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that the local ordinance was based on a mandate of the Manpower Law that stipulates supervisory functions as fully in the hands of the region, so technical rules are needed to regulate the bylaw.

“The bylaw is urgently needed because the huge number of informal workers in Batam need protection. We are also concerned with the basic rights of workers who have thus far been ignored by employers. We will improve the quality and climate of manpower with this law,” said Riki.

According to Riki, 312,000 of Batam’s population of roughly 1 million work in manufacturing, shipbuilding and other industrial sectors.

The bylaw is currently being drafted by academics from Yogyakarta’s Gadjah Mada University. The Riau Islands legislature will form a special committee on Oct. 10.

The bylaw is expected to be complete in three months and effective early next year. Businesspeople have opposed the bylaw, calling it detrimental to companies.

“Can you imagine that I have 6,000 workers and half of them have children? Should I build a hotel to accommodate them? We reject the bylaw,” said Abidin, chairman of Riau Islands chapter of Apindo advisory board.

PT Citra Tubindo president director Kris Wiluan agreed that too many bylaws in Batam would confuse investors and businesspeople.

“The numerous confusing bylaws in Batam will cause business uncertainty,” Kris said.